Label mates and friends, Tale of Us and Mind Against, have joined together once again to create a work that works, fittingly, well past the summation of its parts. Playing with tension and release, these accomplished artists from the Life and Death team bring us “Astral,” a one-track collaboration that is scheduled for October 5 release—as included in Stephan Bodzin’s XLR8R podcast this week.
Tracklisting:
01. Astral
After building momentum with much-acclaimed releases from seasoned producers and rising stars alike, exclusive mail order imprint KX celebrates its tenth instalment with an action-packed compilation of secret weapons and future classics.
KX is a new label set up by the Kompakt record store and warehouse crew. Do not mistake this as a new sub-label of Kompakt, but as an entity of it’s own birthed ‘from fans to fans.’
KX is now set to release their first ever compilation in album format, KX 2015, which highlights the year’s releases from Reinhard Voigt, Lazaros, Luis Junior, Elijah Simmons, and a massive debut 12″ from rising star Jonas Rathsman.
Tracklisting:
CD1
01. Christerk – Snowhaze
02. Roy Rosenfeld & Guy Mantzur – Deeyo
03. Pieter Steijger – Gossip
04. Lazaros – Keto
05. Luis Junior – Numina
06. Elijah Simmons – Sil
07. Jonas Rathsman – New Generation
08. Euripides – the Dreamer
09. Krisztian Dobrocsi – Subwolfer
CD2
01. Elijah Simmons – Pisces
02. Termoment – Arcade Gem
03. Kelly Sylvia – Sapphire
04. Luis Junior – La Musica
05. Lazaros – Trigono
06. Reinhard Voigt – Rv 01
08. Euripides – Melancholy Days
08. Gadi Mitrani – Key of Stillness (Original Vocal Mix)
KX will release KX 2015 on November 13.
Dino Sabatini’s Outis Music imprint has announced the upcoming release of the Chapter II (The Beginning) EP, which features remixes of Sabatini and Gianluca Meloni’s collaborative project Modern Heads by their Elettronica Romana peers Donato Dozzy, Claudio PRC and Giorgio Gigli—all reworks of the track “Beginning”.
The original track was featured on last year’s Modern Heads EP Chapter II EP on Outis Music, which marked the return of the project four years after the latest release. Prior to the 2014 EP, the duo had released on—among others—Prologue, Stroboscopic Artefacts (collaboration with Perc) and, of course, Elettronica Romana.
The Chapter II (The Beginning) EP is scheduled for October 12 vinyl release, and November 9 via digital outlets. Ahead of its release, XLR8R spoke to Sabatini to learn more, with the Giorgio Gigli remix exclusively available to stream below.
Tracklisting:
A1 – Beginning (Claudio PRC Remix)
A2 – Beginning (Giorgio Gigli Remix)
B – Beginning (Donato Dozzy Remix)
Many artists start their own imprints as a way to get their early releases out, but you already had several release by the time you founded Outis Music. What motivated you to start your own label?
I felt the need to create my own space where I could vent my ideas about art and music— and it was also the time to personally manage my discography.
With the new Modern Heads remixes by Donato Dozzy, Claudio PRC and Giorgio Gigli, the release’s roster seems like a little summary of the Elettronica Romana sound. Up until now, Outis Music has been focused on this sound and Italian artists (aside from your collaboration with Edit Select from the UK). And how do you envision the Elettronica Romana sound in the future?
First of all I want to be clear on one thing: I do not decide based on the nationality of the artists, but I decide based on the music and, at the moment, in Italy there are some very talented young people who have grown up with our music—and by ‘our’ I mean the releases made by the crew of Elettronica Romana.
It has been about seven years since I last collaborated with Gianluca Meloni (Laertes), and after spending the first day in the studio with him, I thought back to the days spent in the studio of Elettronica Romana where we worked as sound engineers—there was a great synergy created among the artists.
So for this release I have chosen Donato Dozzy and Giorgio Gigli, who gave birth to the first Elettronica Romana release “Chiki Disco,” and Claudio PRC who was among the newcomers with the “Diving Point” release that made me notice his talent—but also the arrival of the new generation created by the musical style of the old crew of Elettronica Romana.
The future of this sound is in the hands of young people who have taken our message and are reworking in their own ways.
What musical projects are you working on yourself?
I’m currently working on three different types of live sets. The first is the one that will present my new album due out early next year. Then I’m working with Gianluca Meloni on a new Modern Heads live set which we will present for the first time in December at AIR in Tokyo. And finally the live project with the pianist and accordionist Antonello Salis (an icon of Italian Jazz) who has participated on two tracks of my next album, and for whom I have great respect.
Jon Gurd’s Birth Right EP is the first material from the Portsmouth based techno producer in more than two years, since his ventures on Octopus Recordings, 8 Sided Dice and Quartz. The EP therefore indicates an audible step change, not just in the approach to production but also in the mindset and emotive feeling behind each texture and layer. Having emerged unscathed from a traumatic family drama, Jon communicates a tortuous and re-evaluated life message across all three tracks of the EP, which is dedicated to his brother with a hidden meaning conveying: Tomorrow Is – Promised – To No One.
Dissecting the EP further, the educated are blessed with field recordings, analog rumbling and modular synthesis exiting from almost 24 months of lab-driven experimentation. No real process has been applied and the EP’s success is that it now exudes what Jon ‘feels’ innately rather than what the industry wants—therefore the journey, endless noise making and experimentation gives a balanced and exciting offering.
Ahead of its October 2 release, XLR8R spoke with Gurd to learn more about the EP, which is available exclusively to stream below.
What was the inspiration behind this EP—there seems to be a strong undertone or message?
The inspiration is pretty vague; it’s the culmination of lots of late nights and noise making in the studio. I had a couple of major incidents happen in my immediate family which has given me a new perspective on life and writing music, and I guess some of the way I was feeling over the past few years is expressed in the music somehow. I read a quote somewhere that said ‘Tomorrow Is Promised To No One,’ and it really stuck in my head—hence the name of the tracks within the EP.
What have you been doing production-wise in the last two years?
It’s great to be writing original tracks again—but I’ve needed the break to realign myself with the reasons as to why I like writing music. I’ve been pretty busy in those two years. I studio engineer for people which takes up a lot of my time. I’ve also been pretty busy with a project called Mister Woo which involves Dave Robertson (who you may know as Reset Robot), Tom Powell and myself. We have a release coming out on Derelicht very soon, including an Alan Fitzpatrick remix, I’m very excited about that.
What’s next for Jon Gurd?
I’ll be fully concentrating on my own music for the main part from now on, so you will be seeing a lot more material from myself. There is a possibility of a solo album due to the sheer amount of music that I’ve been working on. That will become more clear in the coming months. I’m sure I’ll be rekindling my production partnership with Alan Fitzpatrick at some point in the future, to follow up our releases on Det Sync & ESD—and of course I’ll be working with Dave and Tom on new Mister Woo material.
Tracklisting:
A1. Tomorrow Is
A2. Promised
A3. Promised (Dave Clarke)
B1. To No One
B2. To No One (Ancestral Voices)
Belgian techno veteran Peter Van Hoesen is behind a forthcoming full-length compilation, Stealth. Slated for release on his own Time to Express label, Resident Advisor reports that the 14-track collection features the likes of Eric Cloutier, Voices from the Lake, Mike Parker, Material Object, Bee Mask, Wata Igarashi, and Van Hoesen himself. While no clips have been shared as of yet, a digital version will arrive on November 9, with a three-part vinyl series to follow. For the moment, a complete tracklist can be viewed below.
01. Wata Igarashi -Top Secret
02. Yves De Mey – Return For Access (Kempinski Remix)
03. Yotam Avni – Ima – (PVH Stealth Edit)
04. Wata Igarashi – Night
05. Peter Van Hoesen – Prime Symmetry
06. Material Object – Shimmer
07. Mike Parker – Sinuous Mode / Peter Van Hoesen – Stealth PhasePerc
08. Eric Cloutier – Pluviophile
09. Peter Van Hoesen – Breach
10. Voices From The Lake – Zulu Vortex
11. Peter Van Hoesen – Shadows & Concern
12. Peter Van Hoesen – Unicorn
13. Bee Mask: Headband (Peter Van Hoesen Remix)
14. Imaginary Softwoods: Aura Show
With characteristically little fanfare, Dresvn has delivered a new EP on London imprint Honest Jon’s. The collaborative project of cult label heads Dynamo Dreesen (of Acido) and SVN (of Sued), Dresvn specializes in tripped-out, percussive house and is frequently affiliated with Berlin’s Sex Tags crew. The new record, entitled First Voyage, includes a remix by DJ Sotofett and continues a strong year for Honest Jon’s, following a Sotofett double pack, Laurel Halo EP, and a remix package from Ricardo Villalobos. The record is out now and can be previewed here.
If you have ever been to Need I Say More, the annual 7AM party thrown by Seth Troxler and Ryan Crosson in the backyard of a VFW bar called Old Miami in Detroit during Movement, then you know that the party boasts unbelievable secret lineups that are headlined by the likes of Dixon, Tale of Us, and Daniel Bell. Back in 2012, Benoit & Sergio took to the infamous rickety riser to perform a secret live set that absolutely shook the panties off anyone near the grassy knoll that day. For the last three years, dancers and die-hard shazamers have been digging for the Daft Punk inspired track that Benoit & Sergio leveled the pond with that day. A video floated around the internet of the duo playing the track at Old Miami, and ever since then the track has gone down in ketamine lore as the one song that all the fans love, but will never be released. Today marks almost four years of this unbelievable secret weapon being used as a litmus test by Benoit & Sergio to gauge how strong the vibe really is, and now, XLR8R is here to tell you that the wait is over, and that we have “Rev 909” by Benoit & Sergio right here being offered as a free download. To mark this momentous occasion, the boys have two huge new releases coming up that they would like you to know about:
The first is an new release coming out on Leftroom Limited called House With 500 Rooms that will be released on October 16. The second release is an EP called Old Streets, coming out on November 13 on Soul Clap Records, with remix and a dub side produced by Clarian. Benoit & Sergio also have some tour dates lined up, with multiple stops in CA that include Audio Discotech, Wavs, and Transmit Festival in Los Angeles. The duo will also be sharing the stage with Steve Bug and Mathew Jonson at the Geist Showcase at Closure in Amsterdam as part of this year’s official ADE program. Enjoy this little bit of legendary history, and listen as it spreads to every hungry dancefloor across the world over the fall.
02 Oct 2015 / Wavs with Benoit & Sergio at The Wayfarer, Los Angeles
03 Oct 2015 / Boudoir presents Benoit & Sergio at Audio Discotech, San Francisco
04 Oct 2015 / Dirtybird Campout at Oak Canyon Ranch, Los Angeles
09 Oct 2015 / Benoit & Sergio – Secret Location – Houston, Texas
10 Oct 2015 / Transmit feat. Benoit & Sergio, Matthew Dear, NRP, Wankelmut, Droog, Ricoshëi at LA Center Studios, California
16 Oct 2015 / Benoit & Sergio at Opium Rooms, Ireland
17 Oct 2015 / Mathew Jonson Live + Magda + Steve Bug + Benoit & Sergio Live + Clarian (Geist Showcase) at Closure, Amsterdam as part of ADE
23 Oct 2015 / Nacelle House Sessions at The Temple, Giza, Egypt
24 Oct 2015 / Take It Easy, Milan
30 Oct 2015 / Benoit & Sergio – Didi Gallery, Tbilisi, Georgia
31 Oct 2015 / Indigo – Istanbul, Turkey
In the past 13 years, self-described male model and drug enthusiast, Darren Keen, has been musically characterized as everything from “spazz-punk” to “extinction juke.” Through his former aliases and multiple music projects such as The Show is the Rainbow and Touch People, Darren has become known as somewhat of a guru in the Midwest, springing from his fountain numerous derivatives and unmeasurable coat-tail riders. If you were looking for a guidebook to keeping it really fucking weird in the Midwest, you let Darren Keen take you under his stinky wing. Being a leader is tough though, because you have to constantly guide yourself and the people around you into uncomfortable and unknown directions, and most people go kicking and screaming. Thank God this has not detoured Darren in his efforts to continually pursue music styles that fit his personality, and that constantly show his passion for African polyrhythms and footwork. His latest album, He’s Not Real, came out on August 28 on Orange Milk Records, and only further proves that Darren is a top-tier artist in the juke and progressive bass scene. Today, Darren is offering up a free download of “Everybody Funk,” a future juke and footwork track that is just as dirty as it is satisfying. If you are not breaking your neck to this track by the time the 1:13 mark rolls around, there won’t be much I can do for you because I will already be in a neck halo due to severe spinal cord injury.
Russia-born, US-based producer and violinist Ilya Goldberg (a.k.a. Lapa) released his beautiful debut album, Meeting Of The Waters, on September 9 via Loci Records. Also known for his work in Emancipator, Goldberg has crafted a truly immersive and worldly sound with the album, combining the body-moving aspects of electronic music with the complexities of classical, and featuring a cast of collaborators such as long-time partner Douglas Appling from Emancipator, 9Theory, Random Rab, and more. In support of the release, Goldberg has passed along “The Origin,” a gorgeous, dub-infused cut that shows he is just as in tune with bass weight as he is with soaring melodies. In addition to his solo work, Goldberg is embarking on a huge national tour with Emancipator, the dates of which you can find below. “The Origin” can also be picked up for free by hitting the link below.
Tour Dates:
w/ Wax Tailor (Solo Set) & Yppah
09/29/2015 | New Orleans, LA | The Republic
09/30/2015 | Birmingham, AL | Workplay
10/01/2015 | Chattanooga, TN | Track 29
10/02/2015 | The Knoxville, TN | The International
10/03/2015 | Asheville, NC | The Orange Peel
10/06/2015 | Raleigh, NC | The Lincoln Theater
10/07/2015 | Charlotte, NC | Chop Shop
10/08/2015 | Atlanta, GA | Variety Playhouse
10/09/2015 | Athens, GA | The Georgia Theatre
10/10/2015 | Nashville, TN | Marathon Music Works
10/13/2015 | Clifton Park, NY | Upstate Concert Hall
10/14/2015 | Burlington, VT | Higher Ground
10/15/2015 | Boston, MA | Paradise Rock Club
10/16/2015 | Philadelphia, PA | Theatre of Living Arts
10/17/2015 | NYC, NY | Best Buy Theatre
10/18/2015 | Buffalo, NY | Town Ballroom
10/20/2015 | Pittsburgh, PA | Rex Theatre
10/21/2015 | Cleveland, OH | Beachland Ballroom
10/22/2015 | Indianapolis, IN | The Vogue Theatre
10/23/2015 | Grand Rapids, MI | The Intersection
10/24/2015 | Detroit, MI | St. Andrew’s Hall
10/27/2015 | St. Louis, MO | Ready Room
10/28/2015 | Columbia, MO | The Blue Note
10/29/2015 | Madison, WI | Majestic Live
10/30/2015 | Milwaukee, WI | The Miramar Theatre
10/31/2015 | Minneapolis, MN | Mill City Nights
11/01/2015 | Bridgeview, IL | Freaky Deaky
w/ Blockhead & Manatee Commune
11/10/2015 | Bellingham, WA | The Republic
11/11/2015 | Victoria, BC | Sugar Nightclub
11/12/2015 | Vancouver, BC | Commodore Ballroom
11/13/2015 | Portland, OR | Roseland Theatre
11/14/2015 | Seattle, WA | Showbox Market
11/15/2015 | Eugene, OR | Hi-Fi Music Hall
11/17/2015 | Ashland, OR | Ashland Armory
11/18/2015 | Santa Cruz, CA | The Catalyst
11/19/2015 | San Francisco, CA | Regency Ballroom
11/20/2015 | Los Angeles, CA | Regent Theatre
11/21/2015 | Solana Beach, CA | Belly-Up Tavern
11/22/2015 | Pomona, CA | Glasshouse Concert Hall
Releasing music digitally for over a year now, DEAD CERT. Records—founded by William Welt and Jack! Who?—will now drop its first limited edition vinyl-only release.
Spread across four tracks, the release features two original cuts by both founders, one by Welt himself, and a DJ Spider remix of Welt’s “Stalker.” The label is linked to the infamous Death Techno mix series, which has featured guests such as Joachim Spieth, Mike Wall and Miss Sunshine, among others, focusing on the darker, deeper side of techno. The murky depths the release delves into is heavily evident in the first of the collaborative tracks, “Creeper,” which as the name suggests is a slithering slab of groove-focused deepness, perfect for early morning dancefloor destruction.
DEADCERTBLACK001 will be officially released on October 5, with “Creeper” streaming in full below.
